The Psychology of Decision-Making
Thomas woke up to the shrill sound of his alarm. Five more minutes or start the day? He rolled to the left, rolled to the right and chose to let the clock win. When he finally got up, he hesitated in front of the kitchen counter. Coffee sounded comforting, but tea seemed lighter. Coffee, he thought. Definitely coffee. The closet was no better. Shirt or sweater? Was it chilly outside? He checked his phone, then picked the sweater. On his commute, a green light turned orange – risk it or stop? He stopped and watched the lights, turned his head and glanced at his phone, unsure if he should check his messages. He stuffed it into his pocket instead. At work, emails stared back at him. Which one should he tackle first? His boss wanted ideas for the new project. Should he play it safe or pitch his bolder plan? After a long pause, he nervously went with a mixture of both. At lunch, things felt oddly tricky. Salad seemed healthier, but the fries called to him. Later, at the grocery store, he stared at shelves. Apples or bananas? Frozen pizza or fresh ingredients? At home, unwinding on the couch, he clicked through various programs not sure what to watch when stopping on a documentary: “Humans make over 35,000 decisions daily…”. Thomas chuckled. “That’s ridiculous. Who has time to think that much?”, and with a short hesitation he turned off the TV. “Should I go to bed or read?”, Thomas sighed and decided to go to bed.
From the moment we wake until we drift off to sleep, our lives are shaped by choices – some trivial, like what to wear, and others life-altering, like choosing a career or ending a relationship. But whether the decision is small or significant, how often do we truly understand the process behind it? What factors influence our choices? Why do some decisions feel effortless, while others leave us stuck or second-guessing?
What is decision-making?
At its core, decision-making is the cognitive and behavioral process of identifying a problem or goal, evaluating alternatives, and choosing a course of action. It seems straightforward: Find the best option, act, and achieve the desired outcome. Yet, reality rarely feels this simple. Why do we sometimes regret our choices or feel like they weren’t entirely our own? Why do we sometimes struggle to decide at all? The answer lies in the complexity of the decision-making process. Often, decisions are influenced by a lack of resources: not having enough time, perceiving incomplete information or constraints of cognitive capacity. While some choices follow logical reasoning, many rely on emotional responses, mental shortcuts, or are influenced personality traits and our mindset. These less conscious mechanisms help us cope with the overwhelming number of daily decisions but can also lead to mistakes or dissatisfaction, especially when facing highly relevant choices.
But some questions remain: What role do emotions play in our decisions? How does our personality influence choices? Why is our mindset important when deciding? And when logic fails, what drives us to choose anyway. To better understand this fascinating process, we explore key theories of decision-making. In the upcoming articles, we will delve into the fascinating concept of the Dual-Process theory [3]. We will explore Antonio Damásio’s Theory of Somatic Markers and learn how emotions and physiological reactions shape our decisions [1]. We will also uncover the impact of our mindset on the choices we make.
Read the series about decision-making
You will not only gain a solid knowledge of these psychological concepts and theories which help you to understand the process behind decision-making. You will also receive practical tools for improving your own decision-making skills in your job but also in your daily life. Whether you’re facing a tough decision or simply looking to navigate life’s crossroads with greater clarity and confidence, you’ll discover actionable strategies and avoid common pitfalls and tentative decisions [2]. You will thrive in high-stakes situations.
References
[1] Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain. New York: Avon Books.
[2] Talking Heads. (1975). Tentative Decisions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUmrCqXKlEg
[3] Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science (New York, N.Y.), 185(4157), 1124–1131. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124